As a polygamist who has fathered more than 20 children, both in and out of wedlock, he was always going to cause a stir on his inaugural state visit.
Jacob Zuma added fuel to the fire yesterday by branding the British as old fashioned imperialists - only hours before he was officially greeted by the Queen.
The South African president has apparently been angered by his host country's 'obsession' with his colourful life.
It includes five wives, a love child with the daughter of one of his political allies, a criminal trial for the alleged rape of an HIV positive woman and corruption charges.
In an interview yesterday, the 67-year-old politician, who was cleared of rape and fought off the corruption charges, insisted he had been unfairly portrayed and described himself as a 'freedom fighter' who was being attacked by 'colonial' bigots.
'When the British came to our country they said everything we did was barbaric, was wrong, inferior in whatever way,' he said.
'Bear in mind that I'm a freedom fighter and I fought to free myself, also for my culture to be respected. I don't know why they are continuing thinking that their culture is more superior than others, those who might have said so. I am very clear on these issues, I've not looked down upon any culture of anyone, and no one has been given an authority to judge others.
'The British have done that before, as they colonised us, and they continue to do this, and it's an unfortunate thing.'
His spokesman insisted that the president's comments would have no bearing on his three-day trip, saying: 'Mr Zuma is in the UK for a wide ranging programme of substantial and serious issues.
'The comments he made were not aimed at the British public in general but at certain sections of the media which have lambasted him for what he considers to be his culture.'
But his attack has caused intense diplomatic embarrassment - and wrecked his advisers' attempts to coach him about the finer points of royal etiquette.
One aide admitted they had been studying a 'long list of dos and don'ts' for weeks. But when he met the Queen and Prince Philip, Mr Zuma appeared to be on his best behaviour. Alongside newly-elected Mr Zuma was his latest wife, Thobeka Madiba Zuma, 38, with whom he has a one-year-old daughter. He only married her in January.
There had been much debate about which of his three current wives would accompany him on the trip (of the ex-wives, he divorced one while the second committed suicide).
Fortunately for palace staff, he settled on just the one and the couple have been allocated the Belgian Suite in the garden wing at Buckingham Palace.
Former bank clerk Mrs Madiba Zuma, whose generously proportioned figure strained at the seams of her gold shot- silk suit, looked overwhelmed by her surroundings, barely uttering a word as she walked with the royal party.
The couple were treated to a fullscale ceremonial welcome on Horseguards Parade, attended by dignitaries including Gordon Brown, who skipped Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons to attend the event. Mr Zuma greeted the royal party with an unusual double handshake before joining the Duke of Edinburgh to inspect a Guard of Honour.
Mr Brown's absence from Prime Minister's Questions provoked a row.
Usually when a state event leads to a diary clash, the Commons confrontation is moved to the afternoon.
But Mr Brown preferred to attend a children's champion awards event hosted by the News of the World yesterday afternoon.
His spokesman said: 'It is always the case that the head of government is at the receiving ceremony for a visiting head of state.'
Yesterday afternoon, as Mr Zuma was given a tour of Buckingham Palace by his hosts, many of his 200 plus-strong entourage also seemed ignorant of royal protocol.
While the men wandered around the palace wearing football-style scarves in the South African colours over their suits, the women chatted noisily on their mobile phones and used them to take pictures of the furnishings.
Last night, Mr Zuma and his wife sat down to a glittering state banquet thrown at Buckingham Palace by the Queen in their honour.
He took a far more tactful approach in his speech at the banquet than he had done in his earlier interview.
He thanked the British people for their support in the struggle against apartheid and paid tribute to the strong ties between both countries.
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